Positive pressure cam type connector assembly and housings therefor



g- 9 a. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3,

POSITIVE PRESSURE CAM YPE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND HOUSINGS THEREFOR FiledFeb. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l I mark).

MWQ

INVENTOR Aug- 9 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3,

POSITIVE PRESSURE CAM TYPE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND HOUSINGS THEREFORFiled Feb. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IOO 98 loo I/l/l/l/I/Il/Il/ I08 I02I04 H0 H6 H8 J vase-mm IIII/l/A VII/I MI-MA A\\\\\ I50 I56 I60 I64,

I 48 INVENTOR U.S. Cl. 200-153 29 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anelectrical conductor assembly which includes a pair of mating memberswhich have an open first position and a closed second position; a pairof passageways in the assembly; a pair of cam surfaces in the assemblyand a chamber adjacent the cam surfaces when the members are in thesecond position; a flexible conductor mounted in each of the passagewaysand extending a distance beyond the end of its passageway greater thanthe length of the cam surface; the flexible conductors when the matingmembers are in closed position extending into the chamber and having aprimary and a secondary axis; the cam surfaces being in line with theprimary axis of the conductors when the mating members are in the firstand second positions; and said conductors being in engagement with eachother when the mating members are in the second position; and the end ofeach conductor when the mating members are in the second position havingtheir secondary axis different from their primary axis and parallel toand spaced from the primary axis.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly toelectrical connectors of the hermaphroditic and cam type having positivepressure connector means therein.

PRIOR ART DEVELOPMENTS There have been a number of types ofhermaphroditic connectors and cam connectors utilizing a positivepressure for good electrical contact. Earlier prior art devices such asBarre, United States Patent 3,217,285 of Nov. 9, 1965 and British Patent930,509 of July 3, 1963 illustrate the broad principles set out. Thedifficulties with these connectors, is that they do not provide a goodpositive wipe uponinsertion and require a very complex type of bladewhich is expensive and diflicult to manufacture.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY It is therefore, an object of this invention toprovide a hermaphroditic connector which is inexpensive and simple tomanufacture and utilizes flat blades for conductors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector which uses adouble wipe and double contact connection.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a connectorassembly which applies positive pressure at all times to the conductorswhen the assembly is in connected position. Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a connector which will have a low contactwithdrawal resistance.

A further object of this invention is to provide a connector assemblywhich has improved vibration and shock reliability.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electricalassembly in which the parts which mate are identical requiring thereforeonly one master die to produce both mating parts.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an electricalassembly which can be used to simultaneously cause connection of anumber of pairs of conductors.

Another object of this invention is to provide an as- United StatesPatent 3,461,258 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 'ice sembly having areciprocating member which permits ready connection and disconnection.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a connectorassembly having cam surfaces which individually cause connection betweentwoor more conductors.

To summarize, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide anelectrical connector which requires a minimum of space and a maximum ofcontact connection and in which there is a positive pressure at alltimes on the connector and where if necessary a double wipe and a doubleconnection can be utilized.

These and other objects of this invention and advantages andcapabilities will be apparent from the following description andappended claims and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged exploded view showing the assembly in positionfor connection;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the connector assembly in matingposition;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a conductor blade used in theassembly;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating another modification ofthis invention utilizing the cam principle;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section showing twoconductors in contact relation;

FIGURE 6 is a further modification of the invention in cross sectionwhich includes a spring return mechanism;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate additional modifications of this inventionin cross section showing various cam surface assemblies;

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate in cross section still furthermodifications of the invention showing hermaphroditic assemblies.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view illustrating another modification of thisinvention.

FIGURES 1 THROUGH 3 The assembly as generally shown in FIGURE 1 iscomprised of a pair of hermaphroditic housings 10 and 12 which asillustrated in FIGURE 1 are generally rectangular in configuration. Thehousings are made of some nonconductive material which may be molded orcast or otherwise formed as illustrated. Coupling members 14, 16, 18 and20 project forwardly of the housing and have locking ribs or beads 22,24, 26' and 28. The coupling members 14 and 16 and 18 and 20 arelaterally spaced relative to each other as best illustrated in FIGURE 1.The locking ribs 22, 24, 26 and 28 engage in slots such as 30 and 32.Leads 34 and leads 36 are crimped to conductors 38 and 40.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, a conductor 38 which is identical withconductors 40 shown in FIGURE 2 is provided with clamping members 42which are crimped or otherwise formed around the leads 34 and 36 toinsure positive electrical connection. The leads 34 and 36 would bestripped if necessary. The method of connecting the leads to theconductor 38 does not form a part of this invention as this may be doneby any means such as crimping, soldering, and the like.

The conductor 38 includes a smooth flat blade 44 which is quite flexibleso that the blade may be bent or flexed in various planes. The blade 44has struck from it a tine 46 for purposes of locking the conductor inthe housing 10 or the housing 12 as the case may be. The conductor 38 isalso provided with centering arms 48 for positioning the conductor inthe passageways 50 and 52 of the blocks or housings 10 and 12respectively. The passageways 50 and 52 are relieved as at 54 and 56 toprovide clearance means for the locking tine 46. The passageways arefurther relieved by clearance spaces 58 and 60 which receive the ends ofthe blades 44. The housings 10 and 12 are provided with cam surfaces 62and 64 respectively.

It will be noticed in FIGURE 2 that the flexible conductors extend adistance beyond the end of their respective passageways greater than thelength of the cam surfaces 62 and 64. It should be further noticed thatthe flexible conductors when in mated position have primary andsecondary axes. The main body of the conductor lies along the primaryaxis and the end of the conductor lies along the secondary axis. The twoaxes are parallel and spaced from each other in the configurationillustrated in FIGURE 2. The intermediate portions of the conductors inthe areas of a cam surfaces 62 and 64 show gaps 66. It will be obviousthat the action in the closing of the two housings and 12 causes adouble wiping action of the conductors by the ends of the conductorsresulting in a two point contact connection. One point of contact for apair of conductors is in one housing and the other point of contact forthe same pair of conductors is in the other housing. Due to the actionof the earns 62 and 64, a bowing occurs in the conductors towards eachother as will be obvious from a study of FIGURE 2. This bowing action ispossible due to the flexing of the blades of the conductors 38 and 40.In the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3, the relieved portionsor clearance spaces 58 and 60 are slightly larger than the thickness ofthe blade 44 of the conductors 38 and 40. This insures a good firmcontact between the conductors. When the housings 10 and 12 are spacedfrom each other for initial assembly, the blades 44 of the conductors 38and 40 are non-configured and lie flat. As aforementioned, the bladeswhen the housings 10 and 12 are in mating position assume an S-shapedconfiguration.

FIGURES 4, 5 AND 6 In FIGURE 4, the housing 68 is provided with aplurality of parallel conductors 70 mounted in passageways 71 therein inspaced relation. A mating housing 72 is provided with a series of outertines 74 and inner tines 76. All of the tines are provided with camsurfaces 78. A spaced pair of conductors 70 which are aligned with twoface to face cams 78 will come together as best shown in FIGURE 5 whenthe housing 68 is mated with the mated housing 72. A pressure contact 80is made by the two conductors being cammed together when the housingsare mated. The conductors may be mounted in the housing 68 in anyconventional fashion. The spacing between the tines should be sufficientto permit a contacting pair of conductors 70 to slide thereinto Withoutdifficulty. Locking snaps 82 are provided to engage recesses 84 formaintaining the housings 68 and 72 in mating position.

In FIGURE 6, the housing 86 holds a button or plunger 88. A springmember 90 is provided for maintaining the button or plunger in extendedposition within the housing 86. The spring member 90 may be of resilientmaterial such as plastic or may be a coil spring or the like. Outertines 92 and inner tines 94 are provided on the button 88 and have camsurfaces 96 which operate on the conductors 98 in a manner similar tothat illustrated in FIG- URE 4. The conductors 98 are mounted inpassageways 99 in housing 86. The button or plunger 88 may be positionedin the housing 86 by snapping the button therein around the shoulders100 of the housing 86. Any other conventional arrangement for insertionof the plunger 88 in the housing 86 may be provided. It will be notedthat the pairs of conductors 98 will have primary and secondary axessimilar to the structure shown in FIGURE 2 when in mating position.

When the plunger 88 is pushed downwardly into the housing 86, the pairsof blades 98 are cammed together in the manner similar to that shown inFIGURE 5. The spring members 90 force the plunger 88 to return to normalposition when pressure is released thereon. As in the previous describedmodifications, the ends of the connectors 70 in FIGURE 4 and 98 inFIGURE 6 are in line with the cam surfaces 78 and 96 respectively. It

4 should be further noted that the camming of the ends of-the conductorsin FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, when in mating position, have a different axiswhich is substantially parallel to the primary axis in the manner setout. It will bewnoted that bowing occurs in the areas of the earns 78and 98 also.

FIGURES 7, 8 AND 9 FIGURE 7 is a slightly different modification of theinvention in which the conductors 102 are mounted in passageways 103 inthe housing 104 and are cammed in the same direction by a cam surface106 in the mating housing 108. The conductors 102 have their ends inoverlapping relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The cam surface 106is in line with the primary axis of the conductors 102. When thehousings 104 and 108 are mated, the ends of the conductors 102 will bebent into another direction so that the primary axes of the conductorsintersects the secondary axis of the conductors in mated position.Between the primary and secondary axes of the conductors in the matingposition, will be bowing. A positive contact will therefore be made atall time due to the spring pressure involved.

FIGURE 8 shows a slightly different modification of the inventionillustrated in FIGURE 7 and includes two cam surfaces 110 and 112 in themating housing 114 which abut each other and run in opposite directions.Certain of the conductors 116 will run in one direction Whereas otherswill run in the opposite direction as noted in FIGURE 8.

In FIGURE 9, the mating housing 120 is shown with three cam surfaces122, 124 and 126. Cam surfaces 122 and 124 run in the same directionwhereas cam surface 126 runs in the reverse direction. It is noted thatcam surfaces 124 and 126 form a depression rather than an apex as inFIGURE 8. The conductors 128 overlap each other in a manner similar tothat described with regard to FIGURE 7.

In all instances, the conductors 102, 116, and 128, have a primary andsecondary axes when the housings are mated. The secondary axis inFIGURES 7 through 9 of the conductors is at a diagonal with the primaryaxes. In order to function properly, the conductors must be quiteflexible, relatively thin, smooth and unconfigured when in non-matingposition. This provides the best possible pressure contact action whenthe housings are mated.

FIGURES l0 and 11 In FIGURE 10, the hermaphroditic housings 130 and 132are provided with cam surfaces 134 and 136. The cam surfaces, runrearwardly from the passageways 138 and 140. It is to be noted that thebows 142 and 144 of the conductors 146 and 148 respectively extend backonly to the forward edge of the mounting passageway cam surface. FIGURE11 is substantially similar to FIGURE 10 but includes recessed areas 150and 152 which permit the bow of the conductors 154 and 156, mounted inpassageways 153, to extend back into the mounting passageway beyond theforward edge of the passageway cam surfaces 158 and 160. In thestructure shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 stops 162 in FIGURE 10 and 164 inFIGURE 11 are provided to prevent further forward travel of theconductors when the housings are mated. In FIGURES l0 and 11, theconductors 142, 144 and 154 and 156 extend beyond the end of theirrespective housings a distance farther than the greatest depth of thepassageways in the opposite conductor in the areas of their camsurfaces. This causes buckling of the conductors toward each other asillustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11, in order to provide a good pressurecontact between conductors. It will be obvious, from a review of thematerial, that multiple pairs of conductors can be used in housingsprovided with multiple passageways operating in a manner similar to thestructures shown in FIGURES l0 and 11.

5 FIGURE 12 In FIGURE 12, the housing 166 receives the housing 168. Achamber 170 is formed by the housings when in closed position. Blades172 are mounted in passageway 174 and are shown flexed inwardly by camsurfaces 176 against blades 178 which at all times lie in a single planeand have only one axis in open or closed position as compared to theblades 172 which in open position have a single axis but in closedposition have two spaced and parallel axis A and B with a diagonal axisC. A separator 1'80 separates conductors or blades 178. Latches 182maintain the housings in mating position.

While the invention has been described in connection with differentembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth and fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating housings,

(b) a passageway in one housing cooperating with a passageway in theother housing,

() each housing having a flexible conductor mounted in its passagewayand when assembled extending into the passageway of the other housingand having a primary and an offset secondary axis,

(6.) each housing having a cam surface on its passageway in line withthe primary axis of the conductor mounted in the other housing anddeflecting the end of the conductor mounted in the other housing in adirection toward and into engagement with its own conductor, and

(e) the end of each conductor when in assembled position having asecondary axis different from said primary axis so as to provide a twopoint contact connection between said conductors.

2. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) said flexible conductors are relatively thin blades.

3. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 2 and wherein:

(a) said blades are substantially flat and straight in non-assembledrelation and S-shaped in assembled relation.

4. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) the end of the conductor of one housing projects a distance beyondthe cam surface of the other housing.

5. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) the secondary axes of said conductors are parallel to each other.

6. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) the secondary axes of said conductors are parallel to each other andto said primary axes.

7. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) said conductors when in contact connection form an opening betweensaid two point contact connection.

8. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) the ends only of said conductors are in contact connection.

9. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) said passageway of each housing adjacent its cam surface is relievedfrom its conductor, a distance slightly greater than the thickness ofthe end of the other conductor.

10. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 1 and wherein:

(a) said housings each include a plurality of said cooperatingpassageways and a plurality of said flexible conductors.

-11. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 10 and wherein:

(a) said passageways in each housing are parallel to each other, and

(b) lock means for holding said housings in assembled relation.

12. A housing for an electrical assembly comprising:

(a) a passageway,

(b) a substantially flat unitary, non-configured blade conductor mountedin said passageway and flexible throughout its contact length,

(0) said passageway including a cam surface adjacent the end of saidpassageway, and

(d) said conductor extending beyond the end of said passageway adistance greater than the length of said cam surface.

13. A housing for an electrical assembly as in claim 12 and wherein:

(a) said passageway adjacent said cam surface is relieved from saidconductor a distance slightly greater than the thickness of saidconductor end.

14. A housing for an electrical assembly as in claim 12 and including:

(a) a plurality of said passageways each having one of said conductors.

15. A housing for an electrical assembly as in claim 12 and wherein:

(a) said cam surface extends rearwardly in said housing relative to saidpassageway.

16. A housing for an electrical assembly as in claim 12 and wherein:

(a) said cam surface extends forwardly in said housing relative to saidpassageway.

17. A housing for an electrical assembly as in claim 15 and wherein:

(a) said passage includes an enlarged area which includes said camsurface.

18. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating housings,

(b) a passageway in one housing cooperating with a passageway in theother housing,

(c) each housing having a flexible conductor mounted in its passagewayand when assembled extending into the passageway of the other housing,

(d) each housing having a cam surface on its passageway in line with theprimary axis of the conductor mounted in the other housing, and

(e) each passageway having a stop for deflecting the conductor mountedin the other housing in a direction toward and into engagement with itsown conductor.

19. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 18 and wherein:

(a) said conductors when said housings are assembled have contactingbows.

20. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly as in claim 18 and wherein:

(a) the bow of a conductor extends back into its mounting passagewaybeyond the forward edge of said passageway cam surface.

21. An electrical conductor assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating members having an open first position and a closedsecond position,

(b) a plurality of passageways in said assembly,

(c) a cam surface means in said assembly and a chamber adjacent said camsurface means,

(d) a flexible substantially flat, unitary, non-configured bladeconductor mounted in each of said passageways and extending a distancebeyond the end of said passageway,

(e) said flexible conductors when said mating members are in said closedposition extending into said chamber and having a primary and asecondary axis,

(f) said cam surface means being in line with the axis of saidconductors when said mating members are in said first and secondpositions, and

(g) said conductors being in conductive engagement with each other whensaid mating members are in said second position.

22. An electrical conductor assembly as in claim 21 and wherein:

(a) said cam surface means is a single cam surface.

23. An electrical conductor assembly as in claim 22 and wherein:

(a) said conductors are lapped when said mating members are in thesecond position.

24. An electrical conductor assembly as in claim 22 and wherein:

(a) said cam surface means includes at least two adjacent cam surfaces.

25. An electrical conductor assembly as in claim 24 and wherein:

(a) at least two of said cam surfaces run transversely to each other.

26. An electrical conductor assembly as in claim 25 and wherein:

(a) at least two of said cam surfaces run in the same general direction.

27. An electrical conductor assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating members forming a housing having an open firstposition and a closed second position,

(b) a pair of passageways in said assembly,

(c) a pair of cam surfaces on one of said mating members of saidassembly and a chamber adjacent said cam surface,

(d) a flexible conductor mounted in each of said passageways andextending a distance beyond the end of said passageway greater than thelength of said cam surface,

(e) said flexible conductors when said mating members are in said closedposition extending into said chamber and having a primary and an offsetsecondary axis,

(f) said cam surfaces being in line with the primary axis of theconductors when said mating members are in said first and secondpositions,

(g) said conductors being in engagement with each other when said matingmembers are in said second position,

(h) the end of each conductor when said mating members are in saidsecond position having their offset secondary axis different from theirprimary axis and parallel to and spaced from said primary axis, and

(i) spring means for urging said mating members apart.

28. An electrical conductor assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating members having an open first position and a closedsecond position,

(b) a plurality of passageways in said assembly,

(c) a cam surface means in said assembly and a chamber formed adjacentsaid cam surface means,

(d) a flexible substantially flat, unitary, non-configured bladeconductor mounted in each of said passageways and extending a distancebeyond the end of said passageways,

(e) at least one of said flexible conductors when said mating membersare in said closed position extending into said chamber and having aprimary axis and an offset secondary axis,

(f) said cam surface means being in line with the axis of at least oneof said flexible conductors when said mating members are in said firstand second positions,

(g) said conductors being in conductive engagement with each other whensaid mating members are in said second position, and

(h) at least another of said conductors having a primary axis only whensaid mating members are in said first and second positions.

29. A hermaphroditic electrical assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of mating housings,

(b) a pair of passageways in one housing cooperating with a pair ofpassageways in the other housing,

(c) each housing having a flexible conductor mounted in its passagewaysand when assembled extending into the passageways of the other housing,

((1) each housing having a cam surface on one of its passageways in linewith the primary axis of the conductor mounted in the other housing, and

(e) each passageway having a stop for deflecting the end of theconductor mounted in the other housing in a direction toward and intoengagement with its own conductor, and

(f) said cam surface on said one passageway of said pair extendingrearwardly in said housing relative to said other passageway of saidpair.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,849 8/1924 Bates 200-163 XR2,498,743 2/1950 Theriault 339-91 XR 3,145,067 8/1964 Mishelevich et al.339-91 XR 2,558,188 6/1951 McWilliams ZOO-153.12 3,217,285 11/1965 Barre339-221 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner H. BURKS, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 339-91

